title: Plastic freezer bags: a cost-effective method to protect extraction sites in laparoscopic colorectal procedures?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review surgical-site infection (SSI) and retrieval-site tumor recurrence rates in laparoscopic colorectal procedures when using a plastic freezer bag as a wound protector.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laparoscopic colorectal procedures where a plastic freezer bag used as a wound protector at the extraction site were reviewed between 1991 and 2008 from a prospectively collected database. χ test was used to compare SSI and tumor recurrence rates between groups. Costing data were obtained from the operating room supplies department.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 936 cases with 51 (5.45%) surgical-site infections were identified. SSI rates did not differ when comparing groups based on demographic factors, diagnosis, or location of procedure. Retrieval-site tumor recurrence rate was 0.21% (1/474). Cost of plastic freezer bags including sterilization ranged from $0.25 to $3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plastic freezer bags as wound protectors in laparoscopic colorectal procedures are cost effective and have SSI and retrieval-site tumor recurrence rates that compare favorably to published data.
authors.affiliation: *Ottawa Hospital †Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Group, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Hai P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.forename: Reilly P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Musselman
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Trottier
authors.forename: Claudia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Eric C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Poulin
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mamazza
authors.forename: Robin P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Boushey
authors.forename: Rebecca C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Auer
authors.forename: Husein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moloo
mesh_terms: D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006795:Household Products; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009366:Neoplasm Seeding; D010969:Plastics; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics